March 8, 2015 8:46 AM

Speaking an uncomfortable truth to those not disposed to hearing it can be a dangerous thing

As you know two movies came out recently. Selma, the story of one of the 20th century most influential Christian leaders, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who led a non-violent movement that changed the course of American History forever. And American Sniper, the story of the most deadly Navy SEAL sniper in American history. Selma has made 29-30 million so far. American Sniper made over 103 million in the first 4 days. Gives you an idea about who our heroes are. I don’t think it is an under-statement to say that our culture is addicted to violence, guns, war, revenge and retaliation. Unfortunately, so are a lot of Christians.

I devote a lot of time, brain cells, and column inches to wondering why those Christians who actually endeavor to lead Christ-like lives aren’t more vocal about the charlatans who care about Christianity only insofar as it can be used to promote their agenda. Religious zealots on the Far Right make a lot of noise about opposing homosexuality and marriage equality…and what emerges from all that noise can be boiled down to one thing: hatred. Hatred for those who think, look, believe, live, and love differently. Hatred for those who don’t share their belief that they and only are rightfully deserving of manipulating the levers of power. Worst of all, hatred for those who dare speak their mind and contradict the dominant narrative.

The Rabid Christian Right is wont to complain loud and long over the “persecution” they allegedly face for their faith, when in fact they’re far more likely to be doing the persecuting (Denying your “right” to persecute is not ipso facto persecution). A case in point is what happened to MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) chaplain Randy Beckum, who preached a morning sermon on America’s collective addiction to violence. He compared the box office takes of Selma and American Sniper to illustrate his point…and an honest assessment would acknowledge that he’s spot on. That he’s suffering the consequences of speaking an uncomfortable and inconvenient truth says about all you need to know about they hypocrisy of far too many modern Christians.

Unfortunately for Beckum, his sermon sparked a significant backlash. Evidently, people don’t like hearing the not-so-complimentary truth when it’s directed at them. Turns out people like sermons which make them feel good about themselves; those that ask them to examine their beliefs and values can be problematical.

What those upset by Beckum’s sermon seem to have forgotten (or have chosen to ignore) is that Christianity as a religion deeply rooted in non-violence. Of course, the practice of Christianity has for centuries been nothing if not blood-soaked.

Shortly after Beckum’s sermon, it was announced that he would no longer be the vice president of the university’s Community Foundation. Although the university president claimed Beckum had previously expressed interest in stepping down from that position, his daughter disputes this assertion.

Many in the MNU community are wondering if Beckum was “punished” for his pro-peace sermon, and the timing of his dismissal as VP of the community foundation seems to validate those concerns. “Even the people that were frustrated with what (Beckum) had to say in chapel, or wanted to challenge it, were confused and almost offended by the demotion,” said Kristi Rose Jackson, who was elected to be student body president.

Sadly, it appears that MNU may have given into the furor and decided that a Christian clergyman preaching the peace the founder of the faith stood for is simply too controversial for their campus.

Some were upset that Beckum was mixing politics into his preaching. Others felt he was insulting Christians who served in the military. Judging by the reaction of MNU’s administration, Beckum may well have been punished for preaching the truth. There was nothing inflammatory, disrespectful, or incorrect about Beckum’s sermon. That he was preaching what proved to be an uncomfortable and inconvenient truth instead of pumping up the faithful was more than some could bear.

Too many Christians don’t want to be educated. They want to be validated.

It appears that MNU couldn’t handled the idea that Beckum was preaching the peace that Jesus Christ taught and stood for. Now it looks as if his words were even more accurate than he might have imagined. His caution about “equating patriotism with Christianity,” and his admonition that Christians should be “controlled by love, compelled by love for everyone” evidently weren’t what the “patriots” in the congregation were looking for.

Turns out Randy Beckum was closer to the truth than he could have suspected…and that’s not a positive reflection on the state of modern Christianity.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on March 8, 2015 8:46 AM.

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